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Executive director Laura Schneider departing Abbotsford's The Reach Gallery Museum

Board of Directors have launched a search for her replacement
laura-schneiderheadshot-2_2024
Laura Schneider is stepping down as executive director of The Reach Gallery Museum at the end of October.

Laura Schneider has announced she is stepping down as the executive director of The Reach Gallery Museum.

Schneider joined the staff in January of 2015 and began acting as executive director after previous director Suzanne Greening left in March of 2015. She will officially leave her position at the end of October.

Under Schneider's leadership, The Reach has been recognized for its leading-edge approach to curatorial practice and community-engagement. Its achievements include two Governor General’s History Awards for Excellence in Community Programming (2016, 2021), BC Museums Association Award for Excellence in Exhibitions (2018), BC Museums Association Award for Excellence in Community Programming (2021), Heritage BC Award Outstanding Award in the category of Education, Communication and Awareness (2021, 2024), Lieutenant Governor’s Arts and Music Award (2022), and Non-Profit Organization of the Year Abbotsford Business Excellence Award (2023).

“It has been an incredible privilege to serve The Reach and work alongside such talented staff, artists, and community members,” Schneider stated. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I look forward to watching the organization continue to flourish in the years ahead.”

 

 

Previously she was the director/curator of the Cape Breton University Art Gallery in Sydney, N.S. While in the Maritimes she co-founded the Lumière arts festival where she served as artistic director and chairperson for four years. She was also a member of the board of Arts Nova Scotia from 2012 to 2015.

She holds two degrees in Art History from Queen’s University, Kingston (BA Hons), Carleton University (MA), a Bachelors in Education (University of Ottawa), and a Professional Specialization Certificate in Collections Management (University of Victoria).

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Laura for guiding The Reach to new heights,” stated board chair Laura Authier. “Working with her for the last six years has been a great experience and it’s hard to imagine The Reach without her. But this is another milepost of The Reach’s journey and I’m confident The Reach will continue to be recognized as the very special cultural institution it is.”

The Board of Directors has initiated a search for a new executive director. The position is posted on thereach.ca/careers.



Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
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